General Abercromby, the commander-in chief, took charge of
the expedition against Ticonderoga, with a force of 15,390 men, of whom 6337 were regulars
(including Lord John Murray's Highlanders), and 9024 provincials, besides a train of
artillery.

Fort Ticonderoga stands on a tongue of land between Lake Champlain and Lake George, and is
surrounded on three sides by water; part of the fourth side is protected by a morass; the
remaining part was strongly fortified with high entrenchments, supported and flanked by
three batteries, and the whole front of that part which was accessible was intersected by
deep traverses, and blocked up with felled trees, with their branches turned outwards and
their points first sharpened and then hardened by fire, forming altogether a most
formidable defence. On the 4th of July 1758 the commander-in-chief embarked his troops on
Lake George, on board 900 batteaux and 135 whale-boats, with provisions, artillery, and
ammunition; several pieces of cannon being mounted on rafts to cover the landing, which
was effected next day without opposition. The troops were then formed into two parallel
columns, and in this order marched towards the enemy's advanced post, consisting of one
battalion, encamped behind a breast-work of logs. The enemy abandoned this defence without
a shot, after setting the breast-work on fire and burning their tents and implements. The
troops continued their march in the same order, but the route lying through a wood, and
the guides being imperfectly acquainted with the country, the columns were broken by
coming in contact with each other. The right column, at the head of which was Lord Howe,
fell in with a detachment of the enemy who had also lost their way in the retreat from the
advanced post, and a smart skirmish ensuing, the enemy were routed with considerable loss.
Lord Howe unfortunately fell in the beginning of this action. He was much regretted, being
"a young nobleman of the most promising talents, who had distinguished himself in a
peculiar manner by his courage, activity, and rigid observance of military discipline, and
had acquired the esteem and affection of the soldiery by his generosity, sweetness of
manners, and engaging address".

Perceiving that his men were greatly fatigued, General Abercromby ordered them to march
back to their landing place, which they reached about eight o'clock in the morning. having
taken possession of a saw-mill in the neighbourhood of Ticonderoga, which the enemy had
abandoned, General Abercromby advanced towards the place next morning. It was garrisoned
by 5000 men, of whom 2800 were French troops of the line, who were stationed behind the
traverses and felled trees in front of the fort. Receiving information from some prisoners
that General Levi, with a force of 3000 men, was marching to the defence of Ticonderoga,
the English commander resolved to anticipate him by striking, if possible, a decisive blow
before a junction could be effected. He therefore sent an engineer across the river on the
opposite side of the fort to reconnoitre the enemy's entrenchments, who reported that the
works being still unfinished, might be attempted with a prospect of success. Preparations
for the attack were therefore instantly made. The whole army being put in motion, the
picquets, followed by the grenadiers, the battalions and reserve, which last consisted of
the Highlanders and the 55th regiment, advanced with great alacrity towards the
entrenchments, which they found to be much more formidable that they expected. The
breast-work, which was regularly fortified, was eight feet high, and the ground before it
was covered with an abbatis or chevauz-de-frize, projecting in such a manner as to render
the entrenchment almost inaccessible. Undismayed by these discouraging obstacles, the
British troops marched up to the assault in the face of a destructive fire, and maintained
their ground without flinching. Impatient in the rear, the Highlanders broke from the
reserve, and, pushing forward to the front, endeavoured to cut their way through the trees
with their broadswords. After a long and deadly struggle, the assailants penetrated the
exterior defences and advanced to the breast-work; but being unprovided with scaling
ladders, they attempted to gain the breast-work, partly by mounting on each other's
shoulders, and partly by fixing their feet in the holes which they made with their swords
and bayonets in the face of the work. No sooner, however, did a man reach the top, than he
was thrown down by the troops behind the entrenchments. Captain John Campbell, with a few
men, at length forced their way over the breast-work, but they were immediately despatched
with the bayonet. After a desperate struggle, which lasted about four hours under such
discouraging circumstances, General Abercromby seeing no possible chance of success, gave
orders for a retreat. It was with difficulty, however, that the troops could be prevailed
upon to retire, and it was not till the third order that the Highlanders were induced to
retreat, after more than one-half of the men and twenty-five officers had been either
killed or desperately wounded. No attempt was made to molest them in their retreat, and
the whole retired in good order, carrying along with them the whole of the wounded,
amounting to 65 officers and 1178 non-commissioned officers and soldiers. Twenty-three
officers and 567 rank and file were killed.

The loss sustained by the 42d was as follows, viz - 8 officers, 9 sergeants, and 306
soldiers wounded. The officers killed were Major Duncan Campbell of Inveraw, Captain John
Campbell, Lieutenants George Farquharson, Hugh MacPherson, William Baillie, and John
Sitherland; Ensigns Patrick Stewart, brother of Bonskeid, and George Rattray. The wounded
were Captain Gordon Graham, Thomas Graham of Duchray, John Campbell of Strachur, James
Stewart of Urrard, James Grant, Robert Gary, John Campbell, William Grant, John Graham,
brother of Duchray, Alexander Campbell, Alexander Mackintosh, Archibald Campbell, David
Miller, Patrick Balneaves; and Ensigns John Smith and Peter Grant.

The intrepid conduct of the Highlanders on this occasion was made the topic of universal
panegyric in Great Britain, and the public spirits teemed with honourable testimonies to
their bravery. If anything could add to the gratification they received from the
approbation of their country, nothing was better calculated to enhance it than the
handsome way in which their services were appreciated by their companions in arms.
"With a mixture of esteem, grief, and envy (says an officer of the 55th), I consider
the great loss and immortal glory acquired by the Scots Highlanders in the late bloody
affair. Impatient for orders, they rushed forward to the entrenchments, which many of them
actually mounted. They appeared like lions breaking from their chains. Their intrepidity
was rather animated than damped by seeing their comrades fall on every side. I have only
to say of them, that they seemed more anxious to revenge the cause of their deceased
friends, than careful to avoid the same fate. By their assistance, we expect soon to give
a good account of the enemy and of ourselves. There is much harmony and friendship between
us". The following extract of a letter from Lieutenant William Grant, an officer of
the regiment, seems to contain no exaggerated detail: - "The attack began a little
past one in the afternoon, and about two the fire became general on both sides, which was
exceedingly heavy, and without any intermission, insomuch that the oldest soldier present
never saw so furious and incessant a fire. The affair at Fontenoy was nothing to it: I saw
both. We laboured under insurmountable difficulties. The enemy's breast-work was about
nine or ten feet high, upon the top of which they had plenty of wall-pieces fixed, and
which was well lined in the inside with small arms. But the difficult access to their
lines was what have them a fatal advantage over us. They took care to cut down monstrous
large oak trees which covered all the ground from the foot of their breast-work about the
distance of a cannon-shot every way in their front. This not only broke our ranks, and
made it impossible for us to keep our order, but put it entirely out of our power to
advance till we cut our way through. I have seen men behave with courage and resolution
before now, but so much determined bravery can hardly be equalled in any part of the
history of ancient Rome. Even those that were mortally wounded cried aloud to their
companions, not to mind or lose a thought upon them, but to follow their officers, and to
mind the honour of their country. Nay, their ardour was such, that it was difficult to
bring them off. They paid dearly for their intrepidity. The remains of the regiment had
the honour to cover the retreat of the army, and brought off the wounded as we did at
Fontenoy. When shall we have so fine a regiment again? I hope we shall be allowed to
recruit. Lieutenant Grant's wish had been anticipated, as letters of service had been
issued, before the affair of Ticonderoga was known in England, for raising a second
battalion. Moreover, previous to the arrival of the news of the affair at Ticonderoga, his
majesty George II had issued a warrant conferring upon the regiment the title of Royal, so
that after this it was known as the 42d Royal Highland Regiment.

The following is the roll of Capt. John Reid's Company of the 42nd, which was commanded by
Capt. James Murray during the expedition. Taken from Atholl Records, page 440, vol. III.

In the bibliography for this article (Appendix O), the Atholl records are shown as
"Chronicles of the Atholl and Tullibardine Families". Collected and arranged by
John, Seventh Duke of Atholl, K.T., in five volumes, Ballantyle Press, 1908.

This comment system requires
you to be logged in through either a Disqus account or an
account you already have with Google, Twitter, Facebook or
Yahoo. In the event you don't have an account with any of these
companies then you can create an account with Disqus. All
comments are moderated so they won't display until the moderator
has approved your comment.